My left hand, have you felt it?

November 11, 2008

The next day, the weird feeling truly deserved the word numb. I could barely feel my left hand and it was creeping up my arm. My left leg was heavy and I was scuffing my left foot. My balance was wonky and I started to wonder if someone had spiked my drink!

It took some convincing, but I took myself off to the doctor. Now having just moved to Toronto I didn’t even have a doctor, so I found a clinic and wandered inside.

Headaches?

No.

Calf pain?

No.

Ok so it’s not a stroke. Hmmmm.

He didn’t have an answer so referred me for a CT scan. I know now that he had some ideas in his head…

About me and this blog

This blog is about navigating a glitch in the road. On Dec 2nd 2008 I found out I had an Olfactory Groove Meningioma, a benign tumour on the meninges — the membranes that surround your brain and spinal cord.

The little bugger was removed surgically by craniotomy on Jan 28th 2009. Recent times have led me to spend a lot of time with my GP, neurosurgeon, neurologist, naturopath, and osteopath, and this is an account from diagnosis through recovery.

I hope this provides some insight to family, friends, and those who are embarking on the same journey. In my own insignificant way, I'd like to raise awareness of meningiomas and help in early detection, if just for one person.